Ri$k Happens: Multitask misstep

Dec. 04, 2022 - Angela Cady, AIC - AIC - Loss Analyst, ARA Insurance

One morning a driver was speeding on his way to a meeting with an important client. He talked rapidly on the phone to another client, trying to smooth over frustration that was bubbling over about their mutual project. The driver had too many things to do and not enough time. He was feeling quite flustered.

Seemingly out of nowhere, an intersection with a red light appeared. There was traffic in the intersection blocking the way. The frazzled driver stepped on the brake and swerved, then overcorrected. He ended up leaving the roadway and entering the lot of a nearby rental store. His car plowed straight into a large lift parked in front of the store. No one was seriously injured.

The rental store owner attempted to get the damaged lift covered through the at-fault driver’s insurance but the driver’s limits were insufficient to cover all the damage. The rental store owner then filed a claim with his own insurance.

Fencing and curb stops can offer some protection from errant drivers, but no mitigation can protect from every mishap. Likewise, ensure your drivers know to follow traffic laws and keep their full attention on the road so that they do not meet a similar fate. Customers are important but so is arriving in one piece.

This item, provided by ARA Insurance, Overland Park, Kan., contains safety tips and is intended to help readers better understand and manage risk. For more safety and risk management information, customers of ARA Insurance can log on to ReSource. Access is free, so if you haven’t signed up yet, contact your agent or call 800-821-6580.